Learning Objective - EYFS

Expressive Arts and Design

Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function

Resources

Two washing lines, strung up around the trees, with one line one paper length above the other.

Pegs, A3 paper, a tarp or a sheet

Mud, edible berries, grasses, turmeric, leaves of different colours, feather, water, small bowls, and cups

Brushes, sticks, feathers, cabbages

Waterproof coveralls

Introduction

Lay the items on the tarp in an outdoor area with trees.

Group together around 10 children and ask them what can they use to paint pictures. Challenge them and hold up the sticks and feathers, and mud and ask if and how they can use these to paint pictures. Ensure the children all have their coveralls on, and explain they are going to paint something they can see outside, but also, they are going to make their own paint!

Activity

Allow the children to select a bowl or a cup. Allow each child to choose which natural ingredients they would like to use for their paint. Demonstrate with them how each ingredient will make a different colour and allow the children to mush up their ingredient with a stick and a little water, to get a paint like consistency.

Hang the paper on the washing lines with the peg, and encourage the children to use some sticks, brushes, feathers and other materials to paint with, asking the children about their paintings as they create them.

Extension

After the paintings are complete, visit each painting and allow each child to talk about their painting, encouraging them to discuss the different textures, colours and success with the natural paints and tools, and how they differ from traditional paints. Listen and observe and record the children’s language. Take a picture of each of the paintings to include in their learning journals.